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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Rabbits Rule

2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, and for me it is a special event because I was born in 1951, also the Year of the Rabbit. In addition, 1951 and 2011 were both Metal Rabbits (based on the elemental signs of the Chinese Zodiac), so this could be a significant year for me.

I purchased a small book, Japanese Fortune Calendar, by Reiko Chiba when I was in Japan in 1979-80. The description of those born in the Year of the Rabbit is pretty close to my personality, albeit good and bad.

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT

by Reiko Chiba

People born in the year of the rabbit are the most fortunate. They are smooth talkers, talented, and ambitious. Virtuous and reserved, they have exceedingly fine tastes, and other people regard them with admiration and deeply trust them. (Hmmm, the jury is still out on this one.) Rabbit people are always financially lucky. (Really?) They have a fondness for mild gossip, (Yes, I do) but they are tactful and do not speak out willingly if they have to say something bad about someone. (Well, usually) They are very affectionate to those they love but are curiously detached from their families, regarding the other members as little better than strangers. (Sadly, this is sometimes true.) Rabbit people have to be goaded for quite a while before they lose their tempers, for by temperament they are placid. (Mostly true.) They are clever at business, and if someone signs a contract with a rabbit person, there can be no backing out of it. (Yes, I'm stubborn that way.)

Rabbit people are temperamentally melancholy and are able to weep at the slightest provocation. (Not always visible, but yes, that's true.) They are somewhat pedantic and not very well informed, so that, although what they know they know well, they will not seek out further information on other subjects. (I love to research, but I don't often speak to others about what I've found.) Rabbit people would make good gamblers, for they have the uncanny gift of picking the sure thing. (Maybe, I should go to the casino more.) They are a bit conservative and do not plunge into anything without first thinking it over carefully. (Definitely) Some Japanese regard rabbits with suspicion, for there is a belief that witches sometimes take the form of a rabbit. (I'm sure that's why I like black and have a good broom.) Rabbit people will have a placid existence throughout all three phases of their lives, provided they do not become involved with unmanageable elements. (I wonder what those could be?)

* * * * * * * * * * * * That told, I'm a definitely a Rabbit in the Chinese and Japanese zodiac calendar. If you want to know what animal you are, use this calculator. Care to share? Leave a comment.

I was born in the Year of the Rat (1960). I read that once on a place mat at a Chinese restaurant, but I looked it up just now to be sure. The personality traits of a "rat" don't seem to match me at all.